Fifteen: safety in the hospital

Alec


It's been hours and she still isn't awake. The only thing that's keeping me still is the fact that we got answers from her doctors.

She was taken here last night. Not brought into the hospital, she was left in the parking lot.

A nurse that was about to clock into her shift found Temperance. She was more dead than alive when that nurse found her. They had to shove a tube down her throat almost immediately, and a lot of other stuff I've already forgotten. They said it was a miracle it worked.

She has signs of physical abuse written all over her body. Old and new. When they asked her about them, she said she had a few bullies, which is the excuse she always uses. Bullies.

The only person I've seen be rude to her is Sabrina. But even then I would doubt that Sabrina would be the cause of this. Words are different than punches.




Then she went into surgery to fix her internal bleeding. The pills she was taking weren't even pills for the bleeding. That fake doctor gave her vitamin pills. 

"I'm her father, for fuck sake." An angry man catches my attention as he seethes at the nurse. He's a scruffy man with overgrown hair. There's a girl covered in tattoos standing next to him, she runs her long nails through her hair.

"She's Asleep, sir." The nurse stands up, blocking him from coming toward us.

There is something off about this man.

Emaline tenses up beside me.

"What is it?" Zander whispers.

"He reminds me of my ex." She whispers.

Her ex. An abusive fuck.

"Think he abuses his wife?" I ask her while looking at the angry couple. Emaline goes silent for a few seconds. "I don't know." She replies quietly.

I shift uneasily in my seat, looking back at the couple.

"Just let us see her." The woman speaks up.

"Her guests are waiting over there." The nurse points to us.

My eyes widen as I realize he is here for Temperance. We make eye contact with the couple.

The man looks shocked then he snarls. "She doesn't have friends."

He didn't even know she has friends..?

They take their seats beside us. I feel more uneasy than before.

I would expect her to have a good family. Not a family like this. I know our backgrounds are different but you'd expect her parents to look less like crackheads.

I've always grown up with prim and proper parents. My mom is the sweetest woman I know and my dad is hard on us, trying to get us to be the best.

Aside from taking care of me and my two siblings, they would let people stay in the mansion. Whoever needed it, as long as they were able to be a part of the gang.

Because of them, I'm able to give my friends a place to stay. Although they have no idea about Temp yet since they are abroad.

I have no intentions of making Temperance a part of our world if she needs to stay. My brother's fiancee isn't a part of our gang even though she lives with us. I'm sure it will be fine if Temp has to stay.

Breaking me out of my thoughts is a nurse who waltzes out of her room.

"She's awake."

*********************

Temperance

I watch the nurse leave my room as soon as she gets me situated.

My heart monitor beeps normally until two of the worst people step into my room.

I don't speak as they study me. I avert my attention toward my shaky hands.

"Glad to see you're awake, sweetie." Erin gives me a sickly sweet smile.

She's putting on a show for the cameras in the room. They know they are under suspicion.

I nod, continuing my silence.

"Maybe if you are actually good, the bullies won't hit you that hard next time." She continues playing along with the act that I have bullies.

"Maybe if they weren't so fucking dumb, they wouldn't come after me." I don't know if it's from the cameras in the room but for the moment, I have balls.

They can't hurt me in here. I'm free from their violence for now.

If they did decide to hurt me, they would be rushed out and cuffed. I watch their body language as they glance at each other.

They are angry with my words but they understand they are the ones in danger here.

"Mhmm, you're so funny." She laughs, her eye twitching with annoyance. My father stays silent. He is probably on fire on the inside.

"I should report them to the police, Yknow. It wouldn't be so bad." I threaten, daring them to try me.

"You wouldn't dare." My father grits his yellow teeth. Would I dare? That's something even I question.

I shrug and stop talking. I know I am going to get it when I go home. And when I mean "get it." I mean, I'd probably be back in the hospital. But I don't care... for now. Here it is safe.

"I want my next visitors in," I tell them, hinting for them to leave.

"You don't have any others." I know they are lying to me. The nurse said I have six visitors. She said four teens waited for hours as I slept.

"I do. Get out before I call my nurse." I force my voice higher, smirking at them. Once they leave I realize how worn out I am from their presence. My lips fall into a natural position on my face as my smile dies.

The door opens again, revealing my four friends who pile into the room like children.

"Girl I was so worried!!" Emaline gives me a soft hug and then sits down in the seat next to my bed. Her brown eyes bleed into my soul with worry.

"We were all worried." Alec hugs me. "I'm glad you're okay, flower." He whispers in my ear, causing my heart to skip a beat.

Not from that stupid nickname.

It skipped a beat as he says he was worried. What's gotten into me lately? It's definitely all the beatings going to my head. I definitely have brain damage. That would explain my sudden attraction to him.

And we talk and laugh for maybe an hour or so before I let my exhaustion catch up with me. I glance out the window at the dark sky. I know I've slept for the whole day but I can't help this feeling of tiredness.

The nurse steps in, claiming that visiting hours are over and that they can come back tomorrow. I watch as they all leave my room and the nurse changes whatever is in the bag that is connected to my arm.

I lay my head down on the almost flat pillow. The small rectangle window in the door has a bright light shining through from the hallway. The monitors beeped loudly.

Even though my home is a bad place, I would most likely get a better sleep there than in this room.

Maybe it is because I was usually drained or knocked out from the beatings. Maybe it was because my pillow was fluffy, the room was pitch black, and no stupid monitors beeping.

I stare at the drip in my arm. I rip it out and throw it on the floor because it is uncomfortable. Blood comes out of the place where it was hooked in my arm.

I unplug the monitor beside me and the beeping stop. Now I can get the rest I desperately need... Until the nurses come back in to plug me up.